Spotted: Sunderland set to complete another move as £5m defender seen in Portugal

SEBASTIAN COATES is in Portugal to put pen to paper on a move to Sporting Lisbon.

 

Coates has arrived in Lisbon to sign a loan deal

 

The former Liverpool defender swapped Anfield for the Stadium of Light in September 2014 having made just 24 appearances for the Reds.

Coates initially joined Sunderland on loan before a permanent move last summer for a reported £2million.

The Uruguayan was originally brought to the club by fellow countryman Gus Poyet but has struggled to nail down a first-team spot.

 

And with Sam Allardyce having already signed two defenders in Jan Kirchhoff and Lamine Kone, Coates has been deemed surplus to requirements.

The centre-back is expected to complete a loan move which will see him join Sporting until the end of the season, with a reported option to make the move permanent for £5m.

 

The Portuguese club are currently top of Primeira Liga two points clear of Benfica and have lost just one game in the league all season.

On his arrival in Portugal, Coates was met by a media storm and told local outlet RTP that joining Sporting was 'a quick and easy decision'.